©copyright 2007 The Official website of the Loyalist Landing 2008 Society.
Society Business.
2007 January - March Newsletters
Edition 2007-01
Date: Mon, 1 Jan 2007 19:21:57
Welcome to 2007! Some LL08 news to kick start the new year:
1. Just a reminder that the Costume Committee will hold its first meeting on Friday, 5 Jan 07 at 1:30 pm in the Genealogical Society Office. I might add that you don't necessarily have to be able to sew to be part of the Committee - there are many other ways to help out. If you're interested at all, pop by and see what it's all about - or call Kim Walker at 875-2768 for more details.
2. Come celebrate Groundhog Day with the LL08 Society. We'll be holding our very first Dutch Auction on Friday, 2 Feb 07 at the Shelburne Community Centre. The fun starts at 7 pm. Don't forget to mark it on your calendar and start saving your quarters! There will be great prizes to bid on. And if you would like to help out that night, please contact me. We can always use an extra set of hands and feet!
3. I'm very pleased to report that we now have a final draft of the LL08 Society Business Plan - many thanks to Dave Laycock for his incredible work on this! The Business Plan will be the top discussion item at the next ordinary LL08 Society meeting.
4. Heads up, too. Everything you ever wanted to know about the LL08 Society but were afraid to ask ... There will be an annual meeting of the Society in Jan 07 - date yet to be determined. This annual meeting is required under the by-laws governing societies. It will be open to everyone and, to quote Treasurer Jim, "I encourage everyone who has an interest in the LL08 to attend this annual meeting". Stay tuned for details.
Edition 2007-02
Date: Mon, 8 Jan 2007 08:18:01
Good Monday morning!
Please be advised that there will an Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Loyalist Landing 2008 Society on Saturday, 10 Feb 07, 10:30 am, at the Shelburne Community Centre. At this meeting, all existing directors of the Society will be required to resign and new directors will be elected for 2007. Retiring directors will also be eligible for re-election and any member of the Society is eligible to be elected a director of the Society.
What does a director do, you ask? Well, the by-laws state:
"The management of the activities of the Society shall be vested in the directors who, in addition to the powers and authorities by these by-laws or otherwise expressly conferred upon them, may exercise all such powers and do all such acts and things as may be exercised or done by the Society and are not hereby or by Statute expressly directed or required to be exercised or done by the Society in general meeting. In particular, the directors shall have power to engage a co-ordinator and to determine his duties and responsibilities and his remuneration. The directors may appoint an executive committee, consisting of the officers and such other persons as the directors decide."
Now, if you understand all of that - you're definitely director material! All kidding aside, if you have an interest in becoming a director of the Society for 2007 - and more specifically want a hand in making the 2008 celebrations a success - then please come to the AGM and offer your services as a director of the Society. It's going to be a monumental undertaking and we'll need all the help we can get - but what a show it's going to be! Come be part of the fun and get a few grey hairs in the process - both are free!
Edition 2007-03
Date: January 21, 2007
Good morning, in spite of the white stuff! Just when I was settling in quite nicely to a green winter ...
Further to last week's newsletter, there has been a change of location for the Annual General Meeting to be held on Saturday, 20 Feb 07 at 10:30 am. The meeting will now be held in the Council Chambers, Town Office. Don't forget - the AGM is open to everyone, so don't be shy and come on down!
And next Saturday, the 20th, there will be a meeting of the LL08 Society Board of Directors. Tops on the agenda will be the discussion and approval of our business plan. Once we get that out of the way, it's rock 'n roll time - we can then actively start putting the events in place and make 2008 happen.
The first thing that will happen in 2008 will be the Loyalist Levee to be held on New Year's Day. This will be a special levee in many ways - the Town and Municipality will combine their annual levees into one Loyalist levee; it will be the big kick-off to the year's Loyalist landing celebrations, complete with ribbon cutting; and, to really give it a Loyalist flavour, there will be tunes from the 1780s and everyone will be encouraged to wear period dress for the occasion. Should be quite the affair, so mark it on your calendar!
Edition 2007-04
Date: January 22, 2007 10:50 AM
Good Morning!
1. The LL08 Society Board of Directors met this past Saturday, 20 Jan to discuss the business plan. I'm pleased to report that the Board unanimously approved the plan so, in effect, we have our official marching orders. Things will really heat up now as we formalize the planning for the various events to be held throughout 2008. For all of you leading or sponsoring those events - be warned. I'll be bugging you a whole lot more!
2. A big thank you to everyone for the very generous donations for our upcoming Dutch auction. I have literally been left speechless (hard to believe, I know ...) by your generosity and enthusiasm. The Dutch auction will be held on Friday 2 Feb 07 - Groundhog Day! - at 7 pm at the Shelburne Community Centre and there will be many incredible prizes to bid on, so bring lots of moolah. Also, for those of you just itching to bring your Loyalist costume out of retirement from the back of the closet - you're invited to wear it to the auction. Many of us "working" the auction will be wearing ours and it would certainly add to the ambiance to see Loyalist dress in the audience as well. Plus, it's good training for 2008!
3. Still on the subject of donations - you'll recall that I told you about the town-wide yard/garage/sidewalk sale that will be held on Saturday, 7 Jun 08. Well, that whole day will be one big exciting event, starting with the sale in the morning, followed by a huge auction at the Cox Warehouse on the waterfront in the afternoon, and ending with a show at the Osprey in the evening. B&W Auctions has very graciously offered to donate their services to run the auction, and we will be looking for donated items for them to auction off. So, if you come across anything in your home that would be suitable, please keep us in mind!
4. And keep in mind our Annual General Meeting on Saturday, 10 Feb 07 at 10:30 am in the Council Chambers, Town Office.
Edition 2007-05
Date: Sun, 28 Jan 2007 20:25:13
Good evening! So much stuff to tell you, couldn't wait till tomorrow!
1. Don't forget our Dutch auction which will be held on Friday, 2 Feb, 7-9 pm at the Shelburne Community Centre. There will be lots of wonderful prizes, covering every taste, age group and gender, including great stuff for golfers, scrapbookers, the well-dressed, fit folks, wine drinkers, home decorators, angel collectors, wee ones, etc., etc. - 24 prizes in total! There will even be something from Ohio's favourite bloomin' son!
And for anyone wanting to take home something sweet (other than your sweetie), there will be a bake table. However, if you're not into eating sweets, but would be willing to provide something for our bake table, we'll gratefully accept any donations. Please bring them with you if you plan to attend the auction - if not, contact me and I'll gladly arrange for pick-up.
Many thanks to everyone who has offered to work the auction. We never turn down any offer of help, so yes please, speak up when you get there! There's always a whole bunch of little jobs that need to be done at these events. Worst case scenario, there will be plenty of help so you'll have nothing to do but bid on all those great prizes. Aw gee .
Don't forget that many of us will be wearing circa 1783 Loyalist attire, so don't be shy about wearing yours - I guarantee you won't be alone! But if you really are too shy to wear your costume or don't have one yet, you can still get that Loyalist look by wearing one of our LL08 t-shirts that will be on sale.
2. This past week, the LL08 Executive met with representatives from Transcontinental Media and NS Tourism to discuss partnership opportunities in the areas of promotion and publicity for Loyalist Landing 2008. We are now awaiting a proposal from Transcontinental Media and we will be forwarding our own proposal and a copy of the business plan to the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Heritage in the next few days. Stay tuned! =20
3. There will be a Costume Committee meeting on Friday, 9 Feb 07, 2 pm at the Genealogical Society office. If you can't make the meeting but have some input or questions, please contact Kim Walker at 875-2768.
4. We're still planning to hold our Annual General Meeting on Saturday, 10 Feb 07, 10:30 am in the Town Council Chambers. The meeting is open to everyone. Watch for the agenda!
Edition 2007-06
Date: Sun, 4 Feb 2007 21:35:27
Good evening! Yes, I know I'm early again with the newsletter, but what can I say, I'm a woman ahead of my time .
Thank you to everyone who attended the Dutch auction on Friday night. We really appreciated your support and we hope you had as much fun as we did. Congratulations to all of you who won prizes - some of you in particular were very lucky, walking away with a couple or more! In spite of the threatening weather, we had a reasonable turn-out and made a decent amount of money. A big thank you as well to all our sponsors who very generously donated prizes - never could have done this without you! All in all, a successful evening!
This was the first of our 2007 fundraising events. Just as 2008 will feature celebration events throughout the year, 2007 will feature fundraising events throughout the year. We'll be holding various raffles, a yard/craft/bake sale, a silent auction and even Christmas house tours! All of the fundraising events will serve to raise awareness of the LL08 Society and the 2008 celebrations, as well as raise some much-needed funds to help run some of those 2008 events. And any money we make or magically come into will be used strictly to either generate more money such as sales of t-shirts and memorabilia, or to finance venues or prizes for LL08 events. No money whatsoever is paid or will be paid to any director or member of the Society - we're all here as volunteers, working hard to make 2008 a celebration to remember and a year to remember. As always, we'll be counting on your support and your participation to make each event a success. After all, it's your party too!
Coming up this week:
- Costume Committee meeting, Friday, 9 Feb 07, 2 pm at the Genealogical Society Office.
- Annual General Meeting, Saturday, 10 Feb 07, 10:30 am, Town Council Chambers.
Both meetings are open to everyone.
Edition 2007-07
Date: Mon, 12 Feb 2007 09:46:59
Good morning!
Short newsletter this morning - lots going on, but nothing concrete to report.
By now, you've all received your copy of the minutes of the Annual General Meeting held on Saturday. We welcome the addition of Marion Flemming as a new Director of the LL08 Society. Most of the Directors and all the Officers have re-offered - eager to pursue what they've started and to bring the vision to fruition. It was an excellent meeting - thank you to everyone who attended. The paperwork is on its way to the Office of the Registrar as I type, and we're legal for another year!
Nothing coming up this week - it'll be a welcome opportunity to hibernate in the snow and get caught up!
Edition 2007-08
Date: Sun, 18 Feb 2007 19:59:56
Good evening! And how can it not be after such a spectacular day!
Well, polish up the muskets, raise your swords and let out the battle cry - the B.A.R. is coming! The B.A.R. (caution - each letter is pronounced individually lest you risk execution by firing squad at dawn .) is the Brigade of the American Revolution. The Brigade bills itself as a historical group dedicated to recreating the life and times of the common soldier of the American War for Independence which took place from 1775-1783. It was as a result of this war that many displaced British Loyalists sailed to Shelburne and a new life. Members of the Brigade characterize the various facets of all the military factions involved at that time - continental, militia, British, Loyalist, German, French, Spanish and Native American forces, as well as civilians. It conducts 18th century military encampments and exercises, shooting competitions, craft demonstrations, parades, etc. Check them out at www.brigade.org. Click on "Brigade 2007 Schedule" to see our name up in lights under the 2008 Schedule at the bottom of the page!
The B.A.R. officially announced this past week that it would be coming to Shelburne from 18-20 July 2008 to carry out full-scale re-enactments. Estimates are that anywhere from 300-700 re-enactors will play along the waterfront during that time. A tentative schedule suggests they will arrive to set up camps on 16-17 July, do their thing 18-20 July, and then break camp after the 20th to "march on" to Fortress Louisbourg for another re-enactment event.
Of course, travelling along with the B.A.R. will be the usual family, friends, fans and followers, so the actual invasion force could conceivably double or triple, translating into hotel rooms, meals, souvenirs, shopping and sightseeing across the County. Are you smiling yet?
Not only will this event inject a welcome shot of life into the area, but the pomp, pageantry and colour will likely be something to behold! For most of us, this will be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get up close and personal with such a large living piece of history. Can't you just smell that gunpowder?
In other news - Nancy Thomas of the Ladies' Auxiliary found a white, sleeveless top made of heavy cotton at the Community Centre after the Dutch auction on 2 Feb. If it's yours, please contact her at 875-2951.
Edition 2007-09
Date: Sun, 25 Feb 2007 19:10:43
Good evening everyone!
Further to last week's announcement that the B.A.R. will be coming to Shelburne in July 2008, we've received a large number of e-mails and phone calls from across Canada from various individuals, community groups and historical organizations expressing interest in attending and/or participating in the LL08 celebrations. 2008 is taking on a life of its own. It's going to be quite the party!
And being the good little hostess that I am, I want to tell everyone about this incredible, year-long party, so I'm asking for your help. Specifically, I'm asking for a favour.
I'm asking each and every one of you to send me the name, phone number and e-mail address of a family member or friend, whether from here or from away, with the individual's consent of course, that I can add to my LL08 distribution list. I've reached the 200 name milestone and I thought it would be quite appropriate to celebrate by doubling that list. So, help me out and help me spread the good news that Shelburne will be the place to celebrate in 2008!
Edition 2007-10
Date: Sun, 4 Mar 2007 20:24:55
Hi all!
I have some wonderful "gardening" tidbits to report this week, so grab a coffee and have a sit. It'll make you forget all about that white stuff out there.
This first bit is dedicated to Rita Jenkins. First of all, a little history, but only as far back as 1983. During the bicentennial celebrations 24 short years ago, the Halifax Public Gardens created a special carpet bed with the 1983 logo as a commemorative tribute to the landing of the United Empire Loyalists in Shelburne 200 years before. Now fast forward to 2006. Last fall, we sent a request to the Halifax Public Gardens informing them that we would be holding our 225th anniversary celebrations in 2008 and asking them if they could, once more, create a special carpet bed. Got a reply back this week - they said yes! We've sent them a copy of the 2008 logo and a picture of the Queen Anne flag, and they will now decide which design to create. So, if you take a trip to Halifax during the summer of 2008 (in between all the LL08 stuff, of course!!), you'll be able to stroll through the Gardens, stand in front of the special carpet bed and feel a little pride!
Closer to home, the Shelburne County Garden Club is also doing something garden-related for the 2008 celebrations. They have ordered 200 cuttings of the Rosa mundi, otherwise known as the Loyalist Rose, to sell in the spring of 2008. The cuttings will be 3-6 inches tall and ready to plant. Of course, they won't bloom the first year you plant them, but they should bloom the next year - and I guarantee, it will be worth the wait. The Loyalist Rose is striking, with pink, white and red striped petals - and I mean all in the same flower! History has it that the rose is named the Loyalist Rose because it was brought to Nova Scotia by the Loyalists back in the 18th century. For anyone who wants a look at it, I've attached a picture. And come this summer, if you want to have a really close look at it, you'll find some Loyalist Roses at the Ross-Thomson House garden. The rose cuttings will be on sale at the Garden Club's annual plant sale in May 2008 and will cost less than $3 each - watch for the advertisements in the spring of 2008. What a wonderful and original way to commemorate 2008 and remember it long after it's gone!
Edition 2007-11
Date: Sun, 11 Mar 2007 21:53:46
Good evening! Don't you just love that rain and fog? Perfect for getting rid of that awful white stuff. Only 10 more days till spring .
1. Thank you to everyone who attended the meeting on Saturday. Minutes should be out in the next day or so.
2. One of the topics discussed was the sale of LL08 souvenir items, the usual things like pens, pins, keychains, flags, tea cups and mugs bearing the 2008 logo, the Loyalist Rose or the Queen Anne flag. Following that discussion, I have been tasked to "canvass" you - don't worry, it's not as scary or kinky as it sounds. The question - do you have any ideas or suggestions for other LL08 souvenir items? Think about it - when you buy a souvenir, what kind of item do you usually home in on? One of the items I mentioned above, a t-shirt, a baseball cap, what? Let me know!
3. Another item discussed involved legacy, ie, what will LL08 leave behind for future generations? One of the Society's mandates, as it is with most cultural organizations, is to leave something behind that will allow the next generation to either carry on or add to what's been started. So what can the Society create and use in 2008 that it can leave behind as a cultural and historical legacy for 2009 and beyond? At the top of the list is longboats - the Society is hoping to have two longboats built by local craftsmen that can be used by the Town or County for various festivals, or loaned out to other historical and cultural organizations throughout the South Shore for their own heritage celebrations. A second legacy item has been suggested - the creation of a Shelburne-based re-enactment unit that could not only represent Shelburne in the 2008 re-enactment with the B.A.R., but also be available thereafter to support local events and functions, participate in other re-enactments and generally add a little colour and history for the tourists. Those are the two front-runners at the moment. Got any others? If so, please send them to me.
4. Last week's newsletter generated tremendous interest in the Loyalist Rose, so much so that many of you contacted me to put in your order for next year! As a result, the Garden Club has agreed to take advance orders on the Loyalist Rose cuttings, but they've only ordered 200 of the cuttings. So, if you're interested in purchasing some of the rose cuttings, please contact me. This will help them gauge numbers - 200 cuttings may not be enough! Oh, and the ladies at the Museum asked me to tell everyone that they sell bookmarks featuring a picture of the Loyalist rose and its history. They're available for $1 each.
5. Heads up - the next meeting of the Costume Committee will be held on Friday, 23 Mar 07, 2:30 pm at the Genealogical Society Office on Water Street, Shelburne. New members are welcome!
Edition 2007-12
Date: Sun, 18 Mar 2007 21:50:12
Good evening! Lots to tell, so let's get started!
1. Before I forget, the Costume Ctee meeting that was to be held on Friday, 23 Mar has been rescheduled to 30 Mar. Still at 2:30 pm, still at the Genealogical Society Office.
2. This week was a good news week all around. Co-Chair Al and Treasurer Jim took the LL08 show on the road to spread the word. We started with the Lockeport Town Council, next was Frank Anderson from SWSDA, the Black Loyalist Heritage Society, the EMO and the Shelburne Lions' Club. Not only were we well received at each location, but each organization is eager and enthusiastic about being part of the LL08 celebrations and wants to participate in one form or another!
3. The really good news - we received verbal confirmation this week that Transcontinental Media Group, the folks that bring you The Coast Guard, among many other cross-Canada publications, will be partnering with the LL08 Society. We had already singled out Transcontinental as the media organization best suited to meet the Society's promotional needs. And now, as our partner, Transcontinental will be the lead media organization for the 2008 celebrations, meaning it will take care of a significant part of our advertising and promotional needs for LL08.
4. And finally, start spreading the news! On Saturday, 2 Jun 07, yes this year!, Shelburne will hold its very First Annual Town-Wide Yard & Sidewalk Sale. You'll recall that in one of the newsletters last fall, I had mentioned that LL08 would organize a town-wide yard sale in 2008. Well, one thing led to another, and we thought why not do one this year too? We can use it as a dry-run for next year, plus come 2008, we can bill ourselves as the SECOND Annual Town-Wide Yard & Sidewalk Sale.
Woodworkers' has very generously agreed to hold its annual yard sale on 2 Jun and we're hoping that every household and every business in town will participate, be it by holding a yard sale, a sidewalk sale, running a sidewalk caf=E9, setting up a hot dog booth, whatever - only your imagination (and the law .!) are the limits! The idea is to have something going on and wall-to-wall people wherever you look. There will be no cost for the tables and no fee whatsoever to participate. You will be responsible for your own individual yard or sidewalk sale and, whatever money you make, is yours to keep. It will really be like any other yard sale you would hold - except that everyone else in town will hold one with you! Hopefully the weather will cooperate, but if it rains, we'll hold it the next Saturday on 9 Jun. But I'm not worried - I've already put in an order for sunny and warm. We're covered!
The LL08 Society will flood the county with advertising through The Coast Guard, other local media and posters! And as the Society itself is fundraising for 2008, we will set up our own yard sale tables at Atlantic House Park. If you don't plan on holding a yard sale and would rather just spend the day shopping for bargains, the LL08 Society will gladly take any donations of items to sell. We'll also set up a bake table, so if you'd like to consider donating some baked goods, we'll take those too! Plus, we will need people to man (woman?) the tables, so don't be afraid to volunteer. It should be a fun day!!
Start rummaging through the house, start making your plans and start spreading the news. And pencil in the 2nd of Jun on your calendar - you won't want to miss it!
Edition 2007-13
Date: Sun, 25 Mar 2007 19:55:53
Good evening! Despite this morning's annoying little snowfall, spring has definitely sprung. The tulips are pushing up, the Canada geese are coming back, and I squished my first black fly yesterday .
We're just thrilled about the response to last week's announcement of a town-wide yard & sidewalk sale! We've received word from various organizations in town that they will now be holding their annual yard sale on 2 Jun as well. Shelburne is going to be just a hub of activity that day - how great is that!
Special approvals or permits are not required for private yard sales in Town, however, we have been advised by the Town Clerk that each business holding a sidewalk sale in front of its store or restaurant wishing to set up a sidewalk caf=E9 must request special permission from Town Council. As a result, the LL08 Society has made an application to Shelburne Town Council for a "blanket approval" for all businesses and restaurants in the Town of Shelburne to set up a sidewalk sale or a sidewalk caf=E9. This approval would only apply for Saturday, 2 Jun 07, with a rain date of Saturday, 9 Jun 07, and would observe all restrictions and guidelines specified by the Town. Our request will be presented at the next Town Council meeting, so stay tuned.
Put a big X on your calendar for Saturday, 2 Aug 08! The Black Loyalist Heritage Society has confirmed that it will host a march to Birchtown on that date as the Aug 08 Signature Event. This event will be in commemoration of the 500 free blacks who arrived in Shelburne in late August 1783 and were given land on the northwest side of the harbour. Led by Colonel Stephan Blucke, they marched to the site and founded Birchtown, which they named after Colonel Samuel Birch, the Governor of New York. The march on 2 Aug 08 will be a wonderful way to honour their memory and celebrate their spirit. The day will also feature a BBQ picnic and musical entertainment at the museum site in Birchtown, so plan on bringing the whole family!
Reminder - Costume Ctee meeting on Friday, 30 Mar, 2:30 pm, Genealogical Society Office.
Date: Mon, 1 Jan 2007 19:21:57
Welcome to 2007! Some LL08 news to kick start the new year:
1. Just a reminder that the Costume Committee will hold its first meeting on Friday, 5 Jan 07 at 1:30 pm in the Genealogical Society Office. I might add that you don't necessarily have to be able to sew to be part of the Committee - there are many other ways to help out. If you're interested at all, pop by and see what it's all about - or call Kim Walker at 875-2768 for more details.
2. Come celebrate Groundhog Day with the LL08 Society. We'll be holding our very first Dutch Auction on Friday, 2 Feb 07 at the Shelburne Community Centre. The fun starts at 7 pm. Don't forget to mark it on your calendar and start saving your quarters! There will be great prizes to bid on. And if you would like to help out that night, please contact me. We can always use an extra set of hands and feet!
3. I'm very pleased to report that we now have a final draft of the LL08 Society Business Plan - many thanks to Dave Laycock for his incredible work on this! The Business Plan will be the top discussion item at the next ordinary LL08 Society meeting.
4. Heads up, too. Everything you ever wanted to know about the LL08 Society but were afraid to ask ... There will be an annual meeting of the Society in Jan 07 - date yet to be determined. This annual meeting is required under the by-laws governing societies. It will be open to everyone and, to quote Treasurer Jim, "I encourage everyone who has an interest in the LL08 to attend this annual meeting". Stay tuned for details.
Edition 2007-02
Date: Mon, 8 Jan 2007 08:18:01
Good Monday morning!
Please be advised that there will an Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Loyalist Landing 2008 Society on Saturday, 10 Feb 07, 10:30 am, at the Shelburne Community Centre. At this meeting, all existing directors of the Society will be required to resign and new directors will be elected for 2007. Retiring directors will also be eligible for re-election and any member of the Society is eligible to be elected a director of the Society.
What does a director do, you ask? Well, the by-laws state:
"The management of the activities of the Society shall be vested in the directors who, in addition to the powers and authorities by these by-laws or otherwise expressly conferred upon them, may exercise all such powers and do all such acts and things as may be exercised or done by the Society and are not hereby or by Statute expressly directed or required to be exercised or done by the Society in general meeting. In particular, the directors shall have power to engage a co-ordinator and to determine his duties and responsibilities and his remuneration. The directors may appoint an executive committee, consisting of the officers and such other persons as the directors decide."
Now, if you understand all of that - you're definitely director material! All kidding aside, if you have an interest in becoming a director of the Society for 2007 - and more specifically want a hand in making the 2008 celebrations a success - then please come to the AGM and offer your services as a director of the Society. It's going to be a monumental undertaking and we'll need all the help we can get - but what a show it's going to be! Come be part of the fun and get a few grey hairs in the process - both are free!
Edition 2007-03
Date: January 21, 2007
Good morning, in spite of the white stuff! Just when I was settling in quite nicely to a green winter ...
Further to last week's newsletter, there has been a change of location for the Annual General Meeting to be held on Saturday, 20 Feb 07 at 10:30 am. The meeting will now be held in the Council Chambers, Town Office. Don't forget - the AGM is open to everyone, so don't be shy and come on down!
And next Saturday, the 20th, there will be a meeting of the LL08 Society Board of Directors. Tops on the agenda will be the discussion and approval of our business plan. Once we get that out of the way, it's rock 'n roll time - we can then actively start putting the events in place and make 2008 happen.
The first thing that will happen in 2008 will be the Loyalist Levee to be held on New Year's Day. This will be a special levee in many ways - the Town and Municipality will combine their annual levees into one Loyalist levee; it will be the big kick-off to the year's Loyalist landing celebrations, complete with ribbon cutting; and, to really give it a Loyalist flavour, there will be tunes from the 1780s and everyone will be encouraged to wear period dress for the occasion. Should be quite the affair, so mark it on your calendar!
Edition 2007-04
Date: January 22, 2007 10:50 AM
Good Morning!
1. The LL08 Society Board of Directors met this past Saturday, 20 Jan to discuss the business plan. I'm pleased to report that the Board unanimously approved the plan so, in effect, we have our official marching orders. Things will really heat up now as we formalize the planning for the various events to be held throughout 2008. For all of you leading or sponsoring those events - be warned. I'll be bugging you a whole lot more!
2. A big thank you to everyone for the very generous donations for our upcoming Dutch auction. I have literally been left speechless (hard to believe, I know ...) by your generosity and enthusiasm. The Dutch auction will be held on Friday 2 Feb 07 - Groundhog Day! - at 7 pm at the Shelburne Community Centre and there will be many incredible prizes to bid on, so bring lots of moolah. Also, for those of you just itching to bring your Loyalist costume out of retirement from the back of the closet - you're invited to wear it to the auction. Many of us "working" the auction will be wearing ours and it would certainly add to the ambiance to see Loyalist dress in the audience as well. Plus, it's good training for 2008!
3. Still on the subject of donations - you'll recall that I told you about the town-wide yard/garage/sidewalk sale that will be held on Saturday, 7 Jun 08. Well, that whole day will be one big exciting event, starting with the sale in the morning, followed by a huge auction at the Cox Warehouse on the waterfront in the afternoon, and ending with a show at the Osprey in the evening. B&W Auctions has very graciously offered to donate their services to run the auction, and we will be looking for donated items for them to auction off. So, if you come across anything in your home that would be suitable, please keep us in mind!
4. And keep in mind our Annual General Meeting on Saturday, 10 Feb 07 at 10:30 am in the Council Chambers, Town Office.
Edition 2007-05
Date: Sun, 28 Jan 2007 20:25:13
Good evening! So much stuff to tell you, couldn't wait till tomorrow!
1. Don't forget our Dutch auction which will be held on Friday, 2 Feb, 7-9 pm at the Shelburne Community Centre. There will be lots of wonderful prizes, covering every taste, age group and gender, including great stuff for golfers, scrapbookers, the well-dressed, fit folks, wine drinkers, home decorators, angel collectors, wee ones, etc., etc. - 24 prizes in total! There will even be something from Ohio's favourite bloomin' son!
And for anyone wanting to take home something sweet (other than your sweetie), there will be a bake table. However, if you're not into eating sweets, but would be willing to provide something for our bake table, we'll gratefully accept any donations. Please bring them with you if you plan to attend the auction - if not, contact me and I'll gladly arrange for pick-up.
Many thanks to everyone who has offered to work the auction. We never turn down any offer of help, so yes please, speak up when you get there! There's always a whole bunch of little jobs that need to be done at these events. Worst case scenario, there will be plenty of help so you'll have nothing to do but bid on all those great prizes. Aw gee .
Don't forget that many of us will be wearing circa 1783 Loyalist attire, so don't be shy about wearing yours - I guarantee you won't be alone! But if you really are too shy to wear your costume or don't have one yet, you can still get that Loyalist look by wearing one of our LL08 t-shirts that will be on sale.
2. This past week, the LL08 Executive met with representatives from Transcontinental Media and NS Tourism to discuss partnership opportunities in the areas of promotion and publicity for Loyalist Landing 2008. We are now awaiting a proposal from Transcontinental Media and we will be forwarding our own proposal and a copy of the business plan to the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Heritage in the next few days. Stay tuned! =20
3. There will be a Costume Committee meeting on Friday, 9 Feb 07, 2 pm at the Genealogical Society office. If you can't make the meeting but have some input or questions, please contact Kim Walker at 875-2768.
4. We're still planning to hold our Annual General Meeting on Saturday, 10 Feb 07, 10:30 am in the Town Council Chambers. The meeting is open to everyone. Watch for the agenda!
Edition 2007-06
Date: Sun, 4 Feb 2007 21:35:27
Good evening! Yes, I know I'm early again with the newsletter, but what can I say, I'm a woman ahead of my time .
Thank you to everyone who attended the Dutch auction on Friday night. We really appreciated your support and we hope you had as much fun as we did. Congratulations to all of you who won prizes - some of you in particular were very lucky, walking away with a couple or more! In spite of the threatening weather, we had a reasonable turn-out and made a decent amount of money. A big thank you as well to all our sponsors who very generously donated prizes - never could have done this without you! All in all, a successful evening!
This was the first of our 2007 fundraising events. Just as 2008 will feature celebration events throughout the year, 2007 will feature fundraising events throughout the year. We'll be holding various raffles, a yard/craft/bake sale, a silent auction and even Christmas house tours! All of the fundraising events will serve to raise awareness of the LL08 Society and the 2008 celebrations, as well as raise some much-needed funds to help run some of those 2008 events. And any money we make or magically come into will be used strictly to either generate more money such as sales of t-shirts and memorabilia, or to finance venues or prizes for LL08 events. No money whatsoever is paid or will be paid to any director or member of the Society - we're all here as volunteers, working hard to make 2008 a celebration to remember and a year to remember. As always, we'll be counting on your support and your participation to make each event a success. After all, it's your party too!
Coming up this week:
- Costume Committee meeting, Friday, 9 Feb 07, 2 pm at the Genealogical Society Office.
- Annual General Meeting, Saturday, 10 Feb 07, 10:30 am, Town Council Chambers.
Both meetings are open to everyone.
Edition 2007-07
Date: Mon, 12 Feb 2007 09:46:59
Good morning!
Short newsletter this morning - lots going on, but nothing concrete to report.
By now, you've all received your copy of the minutes of the Annual General Meeting held on Saturday. We welcome the addition of Marion Flemming as a new Director of the LL08 Society. Most of the Directors and all the Officers have re-offered - eager to pursue what they've started and to bring the vision to fruition. It was an excellent meeting - thank you to everyone who attended. The paperwork is on its way to the Office of the Registrar as I type, and we're legal for another year!
Nothing coming up this week - it'll be a welcome opportunity to hibernate in the snow and get caught up!
Edition 2007-08
Date: Sun, 18 Feb 2007 19:59:56
Good evening! And how can it not be after such a spectacular day!
Well, polish up the muskets, raise your swords and let out the battle cry - the B.A.R. is coming! The B.A.R. (caution - each letter is pronounced individually lest you risk execution by firing squad at dawn .) is the Brigade of the American Revolution. The Brigade bills itself as a historical group dedicated to recreating the life and times of the common soldier of the American War for Independence which took place from 1775-1783. It was as a result of this war that many displaced British Loyalists sailed to Shelburne and a new life. Members of the Brigade characterize the various facets of all the military factions involved at that time - continental, militia, British, Loyalist, German, French, Spanish and Native American forces, as well as civilians. It conducts 18th century military encampments and exercises, shooting competitions, craft demonstrations, parades, etc. Check them out at www.brigade.org. Click on "Brigade 2007 Schedule" to see our name up in lights under the 2008 Schedule at the bottom of the page!
The B.A.R. officially announced this past week that it would be coming to Shelburne from 18-20 July 2008 to carry out full-scale re-enactments. Estimates are that anywhere from 300-700 re-enactors will play along the waterfront during that time. A tentative schedule suggests they will arrive to set up camps on 16-17 July, do their thing 18-20 July, and then break camp after the 20th to "march on" to Fortress Louisbourg for another re-enactment event.
Of course, travelling along with the B.A.R. will be the usual family, friends, fans and followers, so the actual invasion force could conceivably double or triple, translating into hotel rooms, meals, souvenirs, shopping and sightseeing across the County. Are you smiling yet?
Not only will this event inject a welcome shot of life into the area, but the pomp, pageantry and colour will likely be something to behold! For most of us, this will be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get up close and personal with such a large living piece of history. Can't you just smell that gunpowder?
In other news - Nancy Thomas of the Ladies' Auxiliary found a white, sleeveless top made of heavy cotton at the Community Centre after the Dutch auction on 2 Feb. If it's yours, please contact her at 875-2951.
Edition 2007-09
Date: Sun, 25 Feb 2007 19:10:43
Good evening everyone!
Further to last week's announcement that the B.A.R. will be coming to Shelburne in July 2008, we've received a large number of e-mails and phone calls from across Canada from various individuals, community groups and historical organizations expressing interest in attending and/or participating in the LL08 celebrations. 2008 is taking on a life of its own. It's going to be quite the party!
And being the good little hostess that I am, I want to tell everyone about this incredible, year-long party, so I'm asking for your help. Specifically, I'm asking for a favour.
I'm asking each and every one of you to send me the name, phone number and e-mail address of a family member or friend, whether from here or from away, with the individual's consent of course, that I can add to my LL08 distribution list. I've reached the 200 name milestone and I thought it would be quite appropriate to celebrate by doubling that list. So, help me out and help me spread the good news that Shelburne will be the place to celebrate in 2008!
Edition 2007-10
Date: Sun, 4 Mar 2007 20:24:55
Hi all!
I have some wonderful "gardening" tidbits to report this week, so grab a coffee and have a sit. It'll make you forget all about that white stuff out there.
This first bit is dedicated to Rita Jenkins. First of all, a little history, but only as far back as 1983. During the bicentennial celebrations 24 short years ago, the Halifax Public Gardens created a special carpet bed with the 1983 logo as a commemorative tribute to the landing of the United Empire Loyalists in Shelburne 200 years before. Now fast forward to 2006. Last fall, we sent a request to the Halifax Public Gardens informing them that we would be holding our 225th anniversary celebrations in 2008 and asking them if they could, once more, create a special carpet bed. Got a reply back this week - they said yes! We've sent them a copy of the 2008 logo and a picture of the Queen Anne flag, and they will now decide which design to create. So, if you take a trip to Halifax during the summer of 2008 (in between all the LL08 stuff, of course!!), you'll be able to stroll through the Gardens, stand in front of the special carpet bed and feel a little pride!
Closer to home, the Shelburne County Garden Club is also doing something garden-related for the 2008 celebrations. They have ordered 200 cuttings of the Rosa mundi, otherwise known as the Loyalist Rose, to sell in the spring of 2008. The cuttings will be 3-6 inches tall and ready to plant. Of course, they won't bloom the first year you plant them, but they should bloom the next year - and I guarantee, it will be worth the wait. The Loyalist Rose is striking, with pink, white and red striped petals - and I mean all in the same flower! History has it that the rose is named the Loyalist Rose because it was brought to Nova Scotia by the Loyalists back in the 18th century. For anyone who wants a look at it, I've attached a picture. And come this summer, if you want to have a really close look at it, you'll find some Loyalist Roses at the Ross-Thomson House garden. The rose cuttings will be on sale at the Garden Club's annual plant sale in May 2008 and will cost less than $3 each - watch for the advertisements in the spring of 2008. What a wonderful and original way to commemorate 2008 and remember it long after it's gone!
Edition 2007-11
Date: Sun, 11 Mar 2007 21:53:46
Good evening! Don't you just love that rain and fog? Perfect for getting rid of that awful white stuff. Only 10 more days till spring .
1. Thank you to everyone who attended the meeting on Saturday. Minutes should be out in the next day or so.
2. One of the topics discussed was the sale of LL08 souvenir items, the usual things like pens, pins, keychains, flags, tea cups and mugs bearing the 2008 logo, the Loyalist Rose or the Queen Anne flag. Following that discussion, I have been tasked to "canvass" you - don't worry, it's not as scary or kinky as it sounds. The question - do you have any ideas or suggestions for other LL08 souvenir items? Think about it - when you buy a souvenir, what kind of item do you usually home in on? One of the items I mentioned above, a t-shirt, a baseball cap, what? Let me know!
3. Another item discussed involved legacy, ie, what will LL08 leave behind for future generations? One of the Society's mandates, as it is with most cultural organizations, is to leave something behind that will allow the next generation to either carry on or add to what's been started. So what can the Society create and use in 2008 that it can leave behind as a cultural and historical legacy for 2009 and beyond? At the top of the list is longboats - the Society is hoping to have two longboats built by local craftsmen that can be used by the Town or County for various festivals, or loaned out to other historical and cultural organizations throughout the South Shore for their own heritage celebrations. A second legacy item has been suggested - the creation of a Shelburne-based re-enactment unit that could not only represent Shelburne in the 2008 re-enactment with the B.A.R., but also be available thereafter to support local events and functions, participate in other re-enactments and generally add a little colour and history for the tourists. Those are the two front-runners at the moment. Got any others? If so, please send them to me.
4. Last week's newsletter generated tremendous interest in the Loyalist Rose, so much so that many of you contacted me to put in your order for next year! As a result, the Garden Club has agreed to take advance orders on the Loyalist Rose cuttings, but they've only ordered 200 of the cuttings. So, if you're interested in purchasing some of the rose cuttings, please contact me. This will help them gauge numbers - 200 cuttings may not be enough! Oh, and the ladies at the Museum asked me to tell everyone that they sell bookmarks featuring a picture of the Loyalist rose and its history. They're available for $1 each.
5. Heads up - the next meeting of the Costume Committee will be held on Friday, 23 Mar 07, 2:30 pm at the Genealogical Society Office on Water Street, Shelburne. New members are welcome!
Edition 2007-12
Date: Sun, 18 Mar 2007 21:50:12
Good evening! Lots to tell, so let's get started!
1. Before I forget, the Costume Ctee meeting that was to be held on Friday, 23 Mar has been rescheduled to 30 Mar. Still at 2:30 pm, still at the Genealogical Society Office.
2. This week was a good news week all around. Co-Chair Al and Treasurer Jim took the LL08 show on the road to spread the word. We started with the Lockeport Town Council, next was Frank Anderson from SWSDA, the Black Loyalist Heritage Society, the EMO and the Shelburne Lions' Club. Not only were we well received at each location, but each organization is eager and enthusiastic about being part of the LL08 celebrations and wants to participate in one form or another!
3. The really good news - we received verbal confirmation this week that Transcontinental Media Group, the folks that bring you The Coast Guard, among many other cross-Canada publications, will be partnering with the LL08 Society. We had already singled out Transcontinental as the media organization best suited to meet the Society's promotional needs. And now, as our partner, Transcontinental will be the lead media organization for the 2008 celebrations, meaning it will take care of a significant part of our advertising and promotional needs for LL08.
4. And finally, start spreading the news! On Saturday, 2 Jun 07, yes this year!, Shelburne will hold its very First Annual Town-Wide Yard & Sidewalk Sale. You'll recall that in one of the newsletters last fall, I had mentioned that LL08 would organize a town-wide yard sale in 2008. Well, one thing led to another, and we thought why not do one this year too? We can use it as a dry-run for next year, plus come 2008, we can bill ourselves as the SECOND Annual Town-Wide Yard & Sidewalk Sale.
Woodworkers' has very generously agreed to hold its annual yard sale on 2 Jun and we're hoping that every household and every business in town will participate, be it by holding a yard sale, a sidewalk sale, running a sidewalk caf=E9, setting up a hot dog booth, whatever - only your imagination (and the law .!) are the limits! The idea is to have something going on and wall-to-wall people wherever you look. There will be no cost for the tables and no fee whatsoever to participate. You will be responsible for your own individual yard or sidewalk sale and, whatever money you make, is yours to keep. It will really be like any other yard sale you would hold - except that everyone else in town will hold one with you! Hopefully the weather will cooperate, but if it rains, we'll hold it the next Saturday on 9 Jun. But I'm not worried - I've already put in an order for sunny and warm. We're covered!
The LL08 Society will flood the county with advertising through The Coast Guard, other local media and posters! And as the Society itself is fundraising for 2008, we will set up our own yard sale tables at Atlantic House Park. If you don't plan on holding a yard sale and would rather just spend the day shopping for bargains, the LL08 Society will gladly take any donations of items to sell. We'll also set up a bake table, so if you'd like to consider donating some baked goods, we'll take those too! Plus, we will need people to man (woman?) the tables, so don't be afraid to volunteer. It should be a fun day!!
Start rummaging through the house, start making your plans and start spreading the news. And pencil in the 2nd of Jun on your calendar - you won't want to miss it!
Edition 2007-13
Date: Sun, 25 Mar 2007 19:55:53
Good evening! Despite this morning's annoying little snowfall, spring has definitely sprung. The tulips are pushing up, the Canada geese are coming back, and I squished my first black fly yesterday .
We're just thrilled about the response to last week's announcement of a town-wide yard & sidewalk sale! We've received word from various organizations in town that they will now be holding their annual yard sale on 2 Jun as well. Shelburne is going to be just a hub of activity that day - how great is that!
Special approvals or permits are not required for private yard sales in Town, however, we have been advised by the Town Clerk that each business holding a sidewalk sale in front of its store or restaurant wishing to set up a sidewalk caf=E9 must request special permission from Town Council. As a result, the LL08 Society has made an application to Shelburne Town Council for a "blanket approval" for all businesses and restaurants in the Town of Shelburne to set up a sidewalk sale or a sidewalk caf=E9. This approval would only apply for Saturday, 2 Jun 07, with a rain date of Saturday, 9 Jun 07, and would observe all restrictions and guidelines specified by the Town. Our request will be presented at the next Town Council meeting, so stay tuned.
Put a big X on your calendar for Saturday, 2 Aug 08! The Black Loyalist Heritage Society has confirmed that it will host a march to Birchtown on that date as the Aug 08 Signature Event. This event will be in commemoration of the 500 free blacks who arrived in Shelburne in late August 1783 and were given land on the northwest side of the harbour. Led by Colonel Stephan Blucke, they marched to the site and founded Birchtown, which they named after Colonel Samuel Birch, the Governor of New York. The march on 2 Aug 08 will be a wonderful way to honour their memory and celebrate their spirit. The day will also feature a BBQ picnic and musical entertainment at the museum site in Birchtown, so plan on bringing the whole family!
Reminder - Costume Ctee meeting on Friday, 30 Mar, 2:30 pm, Genealogical Society Office.
